Compact toy lap counter

ABSTRACT

A device for use with a toy track layout to count the number of laps traversed by a toy vehicle, comprising a track section with a slot and a pivotally mounted lever which extends through the slot so it can be pivoted down by a vehicle moving along the track. The lever operates an escapement that allows a number wheel to advance to display a new lap count. A single-coil spring is used to move the number wheel and to urge the lever to a position where it projects from the track.

United States Patent Inventors Christopher J. C. Edwards Glendale;

Harvey W. La Branche, Verdes Peninsula; George Soulakis, Los Angeles,all of Calif. 3,356

Jan. 16, 1970 Dec. 21, 1971 Mattel, Inc.

Hawthorne, Calif.

Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee COMPACT TOY LAP COUNTER 7 Claims, 10Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 235/99 R, 235/98 B, 104/150, 273/86 R, 235/] C Int. Cl B6ll1/16, 1 A63f 9/14 Field of Search 235/984,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,228,600 1/1966 May 235/993,400,667 9/1968 Case et a]. 104/150 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,022,738 3/1966Great Britain 235/98 8 Primary Examiner-Stephen .l. TomskyAtt0meySeymour A. Scholnick ABSTRACT: A device for use with a toy tracklayout to count the number of laps traversed by a toy vehicle,comprising a track section with a slot and a pivotally mounted leverwhich extends through the slot so it can be pivoted down by a vehiclemoving along the track. The lever operates an escapement that allows anumber wheel to advance to display a new lap count. A single-coil springis used to move the number wheel and to urge the lever to a positionwhere it projects from the track.

COMPACT TOY LAP COUNTER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention This invention relates to counting mechanisms, and moreparticularly, to apparatus for counting the passes of toy vehicles alonga track.

2. Description of the Prior Art An entertaining accessory for toy trackvehicles is a counter for counting the number of laps traversed by avehicle. Such a counter is preferably constructed so that the vehicle isnot blocked from view as it passes by the counter, to enable a child tokeep the vehicle in sight. It is also desirable to construct the counterin as simple a manner as possible so it can be produced and sold at lowcost.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION counter for toy vehicles.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a counter isprovided which includes a track section with a siot in it and apivotally mounted trip lever which projects from the slot. A rotatablymounted wheel with numbers on it, which can be seen through a window,advances every time a vehicle contacts the trip lever, the trip leveroperating an escapement which allows the wheel to advance. A single-coilspring is used to advance the number wheel and pivot the lever towards aposition in the path of toy vehicles, the spring having one end coupledto the wheel and the other end coupled to the lever.

The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularlity inthe appended claims. The invention will be best understood from thefollowing description when read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dualcounter constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG 2;

FIG. 4 is a view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 and FIG. 5A are views taken on the lines 5-4 and 5A--5A of FIG.3, respectively, during escapement of the number wheel;

FIGS. 6 and 6A are views similar to FIGS. 5 and 5A, respectively duringwinding of the number wheel;

FIG. 7 is a partial plan view showing the right side of the dualcounting mechanism of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective bottom view of a portion of the number wheel ofthe counter of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 illustrates a dual tracklap counter 10 which has two counter mechanisms 12, 14 for counting thepasses of vehicles moving along each of two tracks l6, 18. Each side ofthe apparatus includes a housing 20, 22 and a separate track section 24,26 is attached to each housing for connecting in series with a track I6,18. Each track section has a slot 28, 30 and a trip lever 32, 34 whichprojects upwardly from the slot. Each time a toy vehicle passes across atrack section, such as section 24, it moves down the trip lever 32 onthat section, which causes the advancement of a number wheel 36 which isrotatably mounted on the housing. Each number wheel has numbers on itwhich are displayed through a window 38, 40 in the housing to indicatethe number of vehicle passes. In the case of a closed loop track layout,each counting mechanism can indicate the number of laps traversed by atoy vehicle. Two vehicles can be raced on the two tracks 16, 18 in arace that covers many laps around the layout, such as 20 laps, and thecounting mechanism keeps track of the laps traversed by each vehicle.

The left and right counting mechanisms l2, 14 are substantiallyidentical mirror images of each other, so that a description of onemechanism 12 largely applies to the other. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,the number wheel 36 has 20 numbers on it which can be displayed throughthe window 38. Prior to a race, the wheel may be in a position todisplay a number of laps previously traversed in in a race, and it mustbe turned in a direction opposite to arrow 42 until the number 0" isdisplayed through the window. Rotation of the number wheel 36 winds aspring 44 which will later advance the wheel in the direction of arrow42 each time the trip lever is pivoted by a passing vehicle. The triplever 32 operates an escapement 46 that allows the spring to advance thenumber wheel by onetwentieth turn every time the lever is pivoted down.The fact that the lever does not move the number wheel, but onlyoperates an escapement that allows a spring to move the wheel, allowsthe lever to be pivoted with a minimum force by the vehicle, so that itslows the vehicle by a minimum amount.

As shown in FIG. 2, the number wheel 36 is fixed to a shaft 48 whoselower end is rotatably mounted in a bearing 50 of the housing. The otherend of the shaft is pivotally mounted on another bearing 52 of thehousing. The wheel has 20 ratchet members 54 spaced along a region nearthe circumference of the wheel. These ratchet members interact with pawlmembers on the lever 32 to advance the wheel in steps The coil spring 44is disposed about an upper portion 56 of the shaft bearing, and has alower end portion which rests against a ledge 58 of the shaft bearing. Afirst end 60 of the spring is engaged with a boss 62 fixed to theunderside of the number wheel, and a second end 64 of the spring isengaged with a spring holding portion 66 on the lever. The springholding portion 66 on the lever remains substantially in the samelocation, moving only slightly as the lever pivots. However, the otherend 60 which is engaged with the wheel moves around the axis of thewheel as the wheel turns. The number wheel winds the spring as the wheelis turned prior to a race, and the spring drives the wheel in theopposite direction every time a car hits the lever 32 during a race.

The lever 32 has a pair of trunnions 68, 70 which are pivotally mountedin bearing holes formed in the housing. The lever has a vehicle-engagingend 72 which projects into the the of toy vehicles, and an inner portionwhich is box shaped, as shown in FIG. 3. The inner portion has one side74 with a pawl 76 extending upwardly therefrom and another side 78 withanother pawl 80 extending upwardly therefrom, the pawls positioned toengage the ratchets on the number wheel 36. When the trip lever 32 is inits usual position, wherein the vehicle-engaging end 72 is biased upwardin the path of vehicle the pawl 76 is engaged with a ratchet while theother pawl 80 is disengaged. When the vehicle-engaging end 72 of thelever is moved down by a vehicle, causing pivoting of the lever, thepawl 76 disengages from a ratchet while the other pawl 80 engages aratchet. This alternate engagement of the pawls allows the number wheelto be turned in steps by the spring 44.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first or control pawl member 76 is normallyengaged with a ratchet of the number wheel to prevent the number wheelfrom rotating in a direction in which it is urged by the spring 44. Whenthe vehicle-engaging end 72 is moved down to the position 72A, the firstpawl member 76 is moved down so it disengages from the ratchets to allowthe wheel to turn. However, the wheel cannot turn more than aboutone-half of a step (each step is one-twentieth of a turn) because thesecond pawl 80 moves to the position 80A, wherein it holds the wheelagainst movement past about one-half step. However, when the leversprings back to its original position, the second pawl 80 moves downagain to release the wheel so it rotates about another half-tum and thecontrol pawl 76 moves into engagement with the next ratchet. Thus, thepawls operate as an escapement mechanism.

The apparatus is constructed so that the number wheel 36 can be wound inthe direction opposite to arrow 42 by merely applying winding torque toit without the necessity of operating additional levers or the like todisengage the pawls from the ratchets on the wheel. Such winding isenabled by the construction of the ratchets, as illustrated in FIG. 8which shows them in an upside-down orientation. Each ratchet has a firstside 82 which is formed at a very steep angle such as from the vertical,i.e., from a line parallel to the axis of the wheel, and a second side84 which is formed at a greater angle from the wheel axis, such as 25.The ratchets are wider at their radially outer ends than at their innerends, and are angled somewhat away from a radial direction, to betteraccommodate the pawls.

FIGS. 5 and 5A illustrate the situation during unwinding of the spring,at the rest position, i.e., when the trip lever 32 is raised above thetrack surface. In this rest position, the spring force which tends tomove the wheel in the unwinding direction of arrow 88 (see FIG. 5A)causes the control pawl 76 to lock in an upward position. This isbecause an imaginary line 77 normal to the pawl surface where itcontacts the ratchet surface 84, passes above the axis of pivoting ofthe trip lever at 70 (see FIG. 4). When the trip lever is moved down bya vehicle, the opposite pawl 80 is moved up to position 80A of FIG. 5.In this position 80A, ratchet surface 84 contacts the pawl 80, under theforce of the spring which urges the wheel in the direction of arrow 86.An imaginary line 81 normal to the pawl surface passes blow the axis ofpivoting of the trip lever, to move the pawl down. This plus the forceof spring 44 on the trip lever moves the pawl 80 down again, and theother pawl 76 then enters into the next space between the ratchets.

FIGS. 6 and 6A illustrate the situation during winding of the spring,when the wheel is manually pushed in the direction of arrows 90 and 92.The direction of force applied by ratchet surfaces 82 to pawls 76 and 80urges the pawls to pivot the trip lever down. Thus, the same pawls whichprevent unwinding of the wheel until the trip lever is pushed by avehicle, allow winding of the wheel without requiring a child to movethe trip lever by hand or operate any special mechanism that moves thepawls out of the way of the number wheel. Typically, during winding ofthe number wheel by one full turn (from 20 to 0") 20 checks can beheard, representing the 20 times the pawl 76 is moved down by theratchet surfaces 82.

FIGS. 1, 2 and 7 illustrate the right side mechanism 14 which isconstructed in a manner almost identical to the left side mechanismdescribed above, except that some of the components are mirror images ofsimilar components in the left-hand mechanism. Thus, the trip lever 34of the right-hand mechanism has pawls 100, 102 corresponding to thepawls 76, 80 on the left-hand lever 32. The same springs can be used forboth mechanisms, and the same number wheels can be used for bothmechanisms when there are an even number of teeth, or ratchets on awheel. Both mechanisms operate in substantially the same manner.

The counting apparatus is typically used in a race between two vehicleswhich travel over two different track layouts. Prior to the race, bothnumber wheels are turned until the number 0 can be seen through thewindows 38, 40. Both vehicles are then started at the same time and theyboth repeatedly traverse their respective track layouts until one of thevehicles has completed the race. Completion of the race by a vehicle isindicated by its number wheel showing a predetermined number of lapswhich previously have been agreed upon as the distance of the race.

ACcordingly, the invention provides a dual lap counter of extremesimplicity and attractive appearance. Each counter includes an opentrack section which allows a child to see the vehicles at all times, anda lever which projects from a slot in the track. It would be possiblefor the vehicle-engaging end of the trip lever to extend from the sideof the track. However, the toy vehicles vary substantially in width, butnot as much in the height of the bottom of the chassis above theroadway, so a lever that extends upwardly travels a more uniformdistance when struck by a variety of toy vehicles. The number wheel andlever are both operated by the same coil spring by attaching one end ofthe spring to the wheel and the other end to the lever. The wheel andtrip lever are constructed so that the pawls of the trip leverautomatically allow rotation of the number wheel during winding whileserving as an escapement during lap counting. Therefore, only threeseparate moving parts are employed for each counter, these being thetrip lever, the spring, and the number wheel. The spring is an ordinarylow cost, coil spring, although a rubber band or other resilient membercan also be used as a spring. The trip lever and number wheel each canbe made in a single injection molding. Thus, the entire apparatus canbe. produced at very low cost.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described andillustrated herein, it is recognized that modifications and variationsmay readily occur to those skilled in the art, and consequently, it isintended that the claims be interpreted to cover such modifications andequivalents.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for counting the passes of toy vehicles comprising:

a frame;

a track section mounted on said frame;

. an indicating member mounted on said frame for movement in a pluralityof successive steps to display a plurality of successive numbers;

a lever pivotally mounted on said frame, said lever having a portionnormally situated in the path of vehicles moving along said track andmeans for releasing said indicating member each time said lever ispivoted; and

a spring having a first portion coupled to said lever for urging saidlever toward a position in the path of vehicles moving along said tracksection, and a second portion coupled to said indicating member forurging it in a direction to display a next successive number.

2. The apparatus described in claim I wherein:

said indicating member comprises a wheel rotatably mounted on said frameabout a predetermined axis of rotation, said wheel having a rim portionprojecting from said frame to enable hand turning in a first directionto wind said spring, and said wheel having a plurality of ratchetsthereon;

said means on said lever for releasing said indicating member comprisesa pair of pawls on said lever, a first of said pawls positioned toengage and disengage said ratchets when said lever is in the path ofvehicles and is moved to a position out of said path, respectively asecond of said pawls positioned to engage and disengage said ratchetswhen said lever is out of said path and in said path respectively; and

said first pawl having a first surface which is angled to lock against asurface of said ratchets when said wheel is being urged to rotate bysaid resilient member, and a second surface which is angled to pivot outof engagement with said ratchets when said wheel is being urged torotate in a direction opposite to the direction in which it is urged bysaid spring.

3. The apparatus described in claim I wherein:

said track section has a slot formed therein beneath the path ofvehicles moving therealong; and

situated in the path of vehicles extends through said slot.

4. Apparatus for counting the passes of toy vehicles comprising:

a frame;

a track section mounted on said frame, said track section having a slotbeneath the path of vehicles moving thereon;

an indicating member mounted on said frame for movement in a pluralityof successive steps to indicate vehicle passes; and

a lever pivotally mounted on said frame, said lever having avehicle-engaging portion extending through said slot for downwardmovement by a vehicle passing along said track section, and means foradvancing said indicating member each time said lever is pivoted by avehicle.

5. The apparatus described in claim 4 wherein:

said indicating member comprises a wheel having a plurality of ratchetsthereon, said wheel rotatably mounted on said frame; and

said lever comprises a pair of pawls for alternately engaging saidratchets; and including a coil spring disposed about the axis ofrotation of said wheel and having opposite ends coupled to said wheeland said lever, respectively.

6. The apparatus described in claim 5 wherein:

said wheel has a downwardly extending shaft portion;

said frame includes a bearing portion which has a hole for receivingsaid shaft portion to pivotally support it and a circular outsideportion; and

a plurality of the coils of said spring extend around said circularoutside portion of said bearing.

7. The apparatus described in claim 5 wherein:

said ratchets and pawls each have opposite sides sloped to preventmovement of said pawls by said ratchets when said wheel is urged by saidspring, and sloped to cause movement of said pawls by said ratchets whensaid wheel is turned in a direction opposite to the direction in whichsaid spring urges said wheel.

' i t i i i

1. Apparatus for counting the passes of toy vehicles comprising: a frame; a track section mounted on said frame; an indicating member mounted on said frame for movement in a plurality of successive steps to display a plurality of successive numbers; a lever pivotally mounted on said frame, said lever having a portion normally situated in the path of vehicles moving along said track and means for releasing said indicating member each time said lever is pivoted; and a spring having a first portion coupled to said lever for urging said lever toward a position in the path of vehicles moving along said track section, and a second portion coupled to said indicating member for urging it in a direction to display a next successive number.
 2. The apparatus described in claim 1 wherein: said indicating member comprises a wheel rotatably mounted on said frame about a predetermined axis of rotation, said wheel having a rim portion projecting from said frame to enable hand turning in a first direction to wind said spring, and said wheel having a plurality of ratchets thereon; said means on said lever for releasing said indicating member comprises a pair of pawls on said lever, a first of said pawls positioned to engage and disengage said ratchets wheN said lever is in the path of vehicles and is moved to a position out of said path, respectively a second of said pawls positioned to engage and disengage said ratchets when said lever is out of said path and in said path respectively; and said first pawl having a first surface which is angled to lock against a surface of said ratchets when said wheel is being urged to rotate by said resilient member, and a second surface which is angled to pivot out of engagement with said ratchets when said wheel is being urged to rotate in a direction opposite to the direction in which it is urged by said spring.
 3. The apparatus described in claim 1 wherein: said track section has a slot formed therein beneath the path of vehicles moving therealong; and situated in the path of vehicles extends through said slot.
 4. Apparatus for counting the passes of toy vehicles comprising: a frame; a track section mounted on said frame, said track section having a slot beneath the path of vehicles moving thereon; an indicating member mounted on said frame for movement in a plurality of successive steps to indicate vehicle passes; and a lever pivotally mounted on said frame, said lever having a vehicle-engaging portion extending through said slot for downward movement by a vehicle passing along said track section, and means for advancing said indicating member each time said lever is pivoted by a vehicle.
 5. The apparatus described in claim 4 wherein: said indicating member comprises a wheel having a plurality of ratchets thereon, said wheel rotatably mounted on said frame; and said lever comprises a pair of pawls for alternately engaging said ratchets; and including a coil spring disposed about the axis of rotation of said wheel and having opposite ends coupled to said wheel and said lever, respectively.
 6. The apparatus described in claim 5 wherein: said wheel has a downwardly extending shaft portion; said frame includes a bearing portion which has a hole for receiving said shaft portion to pivotally support it, and a circular outside portion; and a plurality of the coils of said spring extend around said circular outside portion of said bearing.
 7. The apparatus described in claim 5 wherein: said ratchets and pawls each have opposite sides sloped to prevent movement of said pawls by said ratchets when said wheel is urged by said spring, and sloped to cause movement of said pawls by said ratchets when said wheel is turned in a direction opposite to the direction in which said spring urges said wheel. 